Inside The Orioles

Baltimore Orioles Agree to Minor League Deal With Versatile Former First-Round Pick

The Baltimore Orioles have added a former top prospect to their roster on a minor league deal.

Kenneth Teape

Jul 4, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins pinch hitter Nick Gordon (1) scores against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park.
Jul 4, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins pinch hitter Nick Gordon (1) scores against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Many Baltimore Orioles fans might say their team has been among the biggest losers of the offseason.

Their ace, Corbin Burnes, departed in free agency, signing a six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

They haven’t done anything to replace him, either, as all of their targets have either signed elsewhere or were traded to a different team.

Lineup-wise, the team seems likely to lose All-Star right fielder Anthony Santander but did sign Tyler O’Neill in free agency. Catcher Gary Sanchez was also brought into the fold to replace James McCann.

The lack of splash acquisitions will certainly disappoint a lot of people, but the team seems to be banking on their youngsters taking that next step in their development to become difference makers.

The Orioles have also added organizational depth in free agency, signing numerous players to minor league deals.

Their latest addition is an intriguing one.

They have signed Nick Gordon to a minor league deal for the 2025 season.

That is a name some people will recognize because he was, at one time, a top prospect in the sport.

Selected No. 5 overall in the 2014 MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins out of Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida, he possessed immense upside.

A unanimous top 100 prospect from 2015-2018, he never lived up to the hype in the Major Leagues after some productive campaigns in the minors. He has shown more power at the highest level, hitting 23 home runs in 1,027 plate appearances compared to 29 in 2,949 plate appearances in nine minor league seasons.

Gordon will provide Baltimore with some solid insurance and depth should injuries arise throughout the year. He has experience playing all three outfield spots, second base, shortstop and third base in the MLB.

The 2024 campaign was spent with the Miami Marlins after playing for the Twins for the first three years of his career.

In 2022, he showed some signs of living up to expectations, recording a 1.7 WAR in 136 games and 443 plate appearances. But, in the subsequent two seasons, he has recorded a -1.9 WAR, including a -1.7 in 95 games with the Marlins.

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Kenneth Teape
KENNETH TEAPE

Kenneth Teape is an alumnus of SUNY Old Westbury and graduated in 2013 with an Honors Degree in Media Communications with a focus on print journalism. During his time at Old Westbury, he worked for the school newspaper and several online publications, such as Knicks Now, the official website of the New York Knicks, and a self-made website with fellow students, Gotham City Sports News. Kenneth has also been a site expert at Empire Writes Back, Musket Fire, and Lake Show Life within the FanSided Network. He was a contributor to HoopsHabit, with work featured on Bleacher Report and Yardbarker. In addition to his work here, he is a reporter for both NBA Analysis Network and NFL Analysis Network, as well as a writer and editor for Packers Coverage. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @teapester725, or reach him via email at teapester725@gmail.com.

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